Lower Oldpark Housing Services Return
26.11.24
Housing services lost from Lower Oldpark at the end of May 2024 have been restored.
The NIHE withdrew funding for the delivery of the services by the Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) Housing Project Worker at the end of March 2024.
However, LOCA worked hard to obtain alternative funding for a worker to deliver the lost services. These services include housing advice, reporting local environment problems, community consultation and housing regeneration.
Funding to recruit a Housing and Regeneration Worker for two years was secured from Clifton House Trust. LOCA very much appreciates this invaluable funding from a local charitable organization.
Gary Hughes was appointed as the new Housing and Regeneration Worker and started in the role on the 1stNovember 2024. Gary is very familiar with the work and with Lower Oldpark, having been employed as LOCA’s Housing Project Worker between May 2017 and May 2024 and between 2010 and 2011.
Gary will be back delivering a housing advice service from the LOCA Centre at 9-21 Avoca Street. It is a drop-in service as usual, but it will be more likely he can see you if you ring and make an appointment.
You will also see him around the estate checking on local environment problems such as rubbish dumping.
Over the coming months, Gary will also be carrying out a community consultation on regeneration of the vacant sites in Lower Oldpark.
Commenting on his return, Gary said, ‘It’s good to be back’.
Social Housing Scheme Update
26.11.24
The 12 social houses being built by Clanmil Housing at Alloa Street in Lower Oldpark are anticipated to be finished by the end of November 2024.
The development includes 7 three-bedroom houses and 1 three-bedroom bungalow, along with 3 two-bedroom houses and 1 two-bedroom bungalow.
As well as providing much needed new homes, the development represents important physical regeneration on one Lower Oldpark’s remaining vacant and undeveloped sites.
The new housing is a mark of progress but much remains to be done.
Patch Manager Holding Tenants' Surgery
19.3.24
The NIHE Patch Manager for Lower Oldpark, Martin Coney, will be holding a surgery on Thursday 21st March to help NIHE tenants with any problems they have and to answer their questions.
The surgery will take place in Lower Oldpark Community Centre in Avoca Street between 11.00am and 12.00pm.
Martin will be dealing with those who come along on a first come first served basis.
Concern At Theft of Hammers
16.3.24
Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) is concerned at the recent theft of seven hammers and a trowel from the social housing building site at Alloa Street.
The tradesmen tools were stolen from the second floor of two of the new homes under construction some time last weekend. It isn't known how the thieves got onto the site.
The theft is a concern because those responsible have deprived tradesmen trying earn a living of tools of their trade. It is also worrying given the interface trouble at Alloa Street when gangs of youths were carrying weapons. There is also the danger those responsible for the thefts put themselves in by going onto a building site and climbing to the second floor.
Lower Oldpark Residents' Safety Paramount
8.3.24
Recent publicly about the trouble at the Lower Oldpark/ Girdwood interface has highlighted the ongoing and long term suffering of the people of the area.
Video images of large groups of youths running through Lower Oldpark sometimes causing damage to homes and property but always causing fear and stress, particularly for the elderly and children, creates an urgent need for effective and permanent solutions to a problem that just hasn’t gone away.
The first and most important objective must be to end this ongoing nightmare for the people of Lower Oldpark. It is also true that the young people involved in these activities are putting their own safety and futures at risk. In addition, if this violence does not end on a permanent basis, how will the physical regeneration schemes planned for Cliftonpark Avenue ever be successful.
There is a solution available that allows Girdwood to remain open and accessible and at the same time reduce the potential for gangs of youths escaping through Girdwood grounds after engaging in trouble at Alloa Street and Lower Oldpark.
This solution would involve the Girdwood gate opposite Alloa Street remaining open on week days until 5.00pm and then being closed (road and pedestrian gates) until the Girdwood Centre opens in the morning. This gate would also be closed at the weekend.
The other Cliftonpark Avenue access gate near Brucevale could, as at present, remain open at all times. This would mean that there would be easy access for anyone wishing to access Cliftonpark Avenue from Girdwood.
Residents from Lower Oldpark wishing to access Girdwood after 5.00pm and at weekends would have a short walk to the Brucevale end gate.
The above represents an attempt to deal with a long-term problem that must be addressed effectively and permanently.
Feedback would be welcome. Email loweroldparkhousing@gmail.com or Facebook private message @loweroldparkhousing .
Oldpark Road Improvements Start Delayed
5.3.24
The start date continues to be delayed for work on improvements to the public pavements on the front of the Oldpark Road between Cliftonville Circus and near the Crumlin Road/ Oldpark Road junction.
A Department for Communities (DfC) representative told Lower Oldpark Community Association this morning that it was still consulting with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) regarding their active travel requirements (potential cycle lane provision) for this area. DfC hopes to have a decision on the way forward within the near future.
The DfC representative also said that the scheme will not be commencing in this current financial year (before 1st April 2024) and that once DfC has agreed a way forward with DfI, only then can a start date be considered.
NIHE To Hold Monthly Advice Surgery
31.1.24
NIHE Patch Manager, Martin Coney, will be holding monthly advice surgeries for NIHE tenants in Lower Oldpark.
The surgeries will be held on the last Friday of each month between 11.00am and 1.00pm at Lower Oldpark Community Association premises at 9-21 Avoca Street. The first surgery was held on Friday 26th January 2024 and the next will be on 23rd February. People will be seen on a first come first served basis. For more information, contact NIHE Patch Manager, Martin Coney on 028 95982748.
Public Realm Progress Awaited
31.1.24
Details of whether, or when, public realm improvements on the Oldpark Road frontage from near its Crumlin Road junction to Cliftonville Circus are still awaited.
The planned improvements, which date back to 2017, received planning approval in 2019 but were put on hold. They were revived last year and it is hoped work starts before April 2024.
LOCA contacted the Department for Communities, which is responsible for the scheme, for an update. A representative said that, ‘DfC is currently consulting with DfI regarding their active travel requirements (cycle lane provision) for this area. The outcome of these discussions will then dictate the way forward for the Lower Oldpark Public Realm scheme and subsequent work programmes and start dates etc.’
A summary of the main improvements affecting the Lower Oldpark part of the Oldpark Road are available on the Lower Oldpark Housing website at https://loweroldparkhousing.co.uk/useful-info . Also available are plans of the proposed improvements.
NIHE Finally Tidies New Planted Areas
23.12.23
New planted areas provided as part of the Department for Communities Courts' Project have, after a very long delay, been tidied up by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
Despite requests from LOCA, the NIHE allowed the planted areas to become overgrown with weeds and covered in litter.
It is good to see new grass, bark ground cover and plants in place. Lets hope NIHE Grounds' Maintenance look after it in the future.
Bandon Court - New Telegraph Pole For High Speed Internet
23.12.23
Open Reach is is installing a new telegraph pole in Bandon Court.
This will be used to deliver new high speed internet connection via fibre optic cables to homes in the area.
This is part of a wider programme that will be benefiting Lower Oldpark and beyond.
It is good to see the men happy at their work.